[espenfjogstad]

Why isn't the keyboard-rocking BlackBerry Q10 out sooner? | Mobile - CNET News

I thing Roger Cheng is "spot on". Rule #1 in business is that even more important than getting new customers, is keeping your existing customers happy. The hard fact is that 90 % of those of us still remaining loyal to Blackberry have QWERTY phones, and the QWERTY is the main reason we have stayed loyal despite the frustrating delays of BB10. And it is way easier, and urgent, to stop the still loyal from leaving, than getting those who left for iPhone/Android back. That is a process which will take years anyway.

To prioritize the product designed for "those who left" ahead of the one designed for "those who stayed and waited" is simply bad business - in any business.

[Masahiro]

This is a result of blackberry having a virtual monopoly over the keyboard market. There's no where else for these die hard keyboard fans to go except to wait for the Q10.

[BaconMunch]

Based on Twitter, I find that those who are waiting for the keyboard are fine with waiting until April (there really is nowhere else to go).
In terms of their development plan (the flight arrival boards), we saw that they developed for full touch first and are adding 1:1 support afterwards, I don't think you could do it the other way around.

[joe.miller]

I disagree. If they had come to market with a product that physically looks nearly identical to the 9900, the first impression would be "Oh look, same old BlackBerry, who cares."

[espenfjogstad]

Those "die hard keyboard fans" have been/are leaving in droves anyway - but for the most part due to "antique software", not because of the keyboard/lack of screen space. It is way easier to stop more of them from leaving by finally updating the QWERTY phone, than launching an iPhone/Android competitor.

A lot of QWERTY users are up for contract/device renewal every month, and I will guess that if their choice is between a Z10 and an iPhone/Android a lot more of them will leave Blackberry than if their choice is a Q10 vs an iPhone/Android. With those who have already left, there is not the same sense of urgency with regard to whether Blackberry launches a touchscreen in January or April. They have left already and will think and deliberate for a long time before returning. They will also be way more sensitive with regard to amount of apps available at time of purchase than the QWERTY users.

[soogriff]

I disagree. If they had come to market with a product that physically looks nearly identical to the 9900, the first impression would be "Oh look, same old BlackBerry, who cares."

I see your point. For Blackberry haters, that will definitely be their first impression. I know my husband always gives me grief whenever I talk about wanting a particular Blackberry. "But they all look the same, why don't you try something different." And my argument about different OSes just gets me the unimpressed deer in headlights look.

I LOVE the keyboard on the 9930, but because of the constant issues with my provider and doing battery pulls daily, sometimes more, it had me running back to iPhone. And trust me, not a day goes by that I don't miss my BB.

I don't mind the wait for the Q10. It gives me time to decide on that or the Z10. Plus, I'm over being an early adopter all the time. I want someone else to play with it and post about any issues.

[houshinto#IM]

I disagree. If they had come to market with a product that physically looks nearly identical to the 9900, the first impression would be "Oh look, same old BlackBerry, who cares."

Could not agree more! They need to try and entice new or former Blackberry users, not continue to bleed away current users who want to try touchscreen.

[justcurious#WN]

I disagree. If they had come to market with a product that physically looks nearly identical to the 9900, the first impression would be "Oh look, same old BlackBerry, who cares."

Agreed, the tech press would have skewered BB for being "out of touch" and "not getting it" if they'd released the keyboard model first.

[FlashFlare11]

I disagree. I think that bringing the all-touch Z10 to market first is a symbol of many things. First, it states that this is no longer Research in Motion as we know it (literally), this is a brand new company with new visions and goals. Secondly, it tells us that BlackBerry is willing to fight on what's largely considered "foreign territory" for BB. Third, it says that BB is willing to compete with the market leaders for their customers.

Releasing the Q10 first may have stopped a few current BB users from leaving, as well as bringing a few in, but I don't think that number matches the effects the Z10 will have on the market. The Z10 has greater appeal and it is the flagship device. Current BB physical keyboard users have no alternative, so they'll be content waiting for the Q10 whereas all-touch users have a breadth of options that aren't BB.

[bitek]

I will buy Z10 and if i do not like it i will sell it and buy Q10. Z10 new virtual keyboard seems to be Marvelous

[bitek]

iphone and android users will not switch back to blackberry with keyboard but they will consider z10. so imo this is good that blackberry released z10 first. blackberry is after increasing market share and this can be only done with z10 type of phone.